Whitening mouthpiece

Abstract

We offer mouthpieces with a structure specifically designed for teeth whitening. [Solution] The whitening mouthpiece is a mouthpiece that covers at least a portion of either the upper or lower teeth, and is composed of a first piece whose inner wall contacts the tooth surface and a second piece which covers the first piece and has an outer wall that contacts or faces the lips, cheeks, palate, tongue, or the occlusal surface of the opposing teeth, and the first piece is made of a base material containing a whitening active ingredient.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a mouthpiece for whitening.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, mouthpieces that can be used for tooth whitening have been provided. A patient applies a drug to the inside of the mouthpiece and wears it so as to cover the dentition. Thereby, a drug containing a whitening active ingredient can be made to adhere to the dentition over a long period of time.

[0003] As an example, Patent Document 1 describes a mouthpiece made of an elastomer integrally formed in a substantially H-shaped longitudinal section, and provided with cotton, non-woven fabric, sponge, or other elastic mattress membranes on its inner surface that can adhere, retain, moisten, or impregnate a drug.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, the mouthpiece described in Patent Document 1 is assumed to be worn during sleep and has a substantially H-shaped longitudinal section structure that integrally covers the upper and lower teeth. Therefore, it was very difficult to carry out daily life while wearing the mouthpiece.

[0006] Furthermore, the mouthpiece described in Patent Document 1 is primarily intended for the prevention of periodontal disease, and therefore, the sponge containing the drug is designed to cover not only the teeth but also the gums. This is because periodontal disease mainly occurs in the gums. In addition, it is assumed that the sponge will be impregnated with a liquid drug, and it is quite possible that the drug seeping from the sponge will adhere to the lips, cheeks, palate, tongue, etc., in addition to the gums. On the other hand, whitening agents are intended to be used exclusively by adhering them to the teeth, and there is a possibility that they may have adverse effects if they adhere to other parts of the body (lips, cheeks, palate, tongue, etc., in addition to the gums). Therefore, the above-mentioned characteristics of the mouthpiece described in Patent Document 1 can be disadvantages for whitening purposes. Thus, there has been a demand for a mouthpiece with a structure specifically designed for whitening that suppresses these disadvantages. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In one embodiment, the whitening mouthpiece is a mouthpiece that covers at least a portion of either the upper or lower teeth, and is composed of a first piece whose inner wall contacts the tooth surface and a second piece which covers the first piece and has an outer wall that contacts or faces the lips, cheeks, palate, tongue, or the occlusal surface of the opposing teeth, and the first piece is made of a base material containing a whitening active ingredient. In one embodiment, the first piece does not come into contact with the gums. In one embodiment, the material of the first piece is obtained by kneading the whitening active ingredient into the base material. In one embodiment, the material of the first piece is a base material provided with pores for retaining a liquid containing the whitening active ingredient. In one embodiment, the second piece has a stopper structure that prevents the liquid from leaking from the first piece to the gum area. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] This invention makes it possible to provide a mouthpiece with a structure specifically designed for teeth whitening. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing the usage status of mouthpiece 1. [Figure 2] This is a longitudinal cross-section of mouthpiece 1. [Figure 3] This is a longitudinal cross-section of mouthpiece 1. [Figure 4] This is a longitudinal cross-section of mouthpiece 1. [Figure 5] This is a longitudinal cross-section of mouthpiece 1. [Figure 6] This is a longitudinal cross-section of mouthpiece 1. [Figure 7] This is a longitudinal cross-section of mouthpiece 1. [Figure 8] This is a cross-sectional view of mouthpiece 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Hereinafter, specific embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0011] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the mouthpiece 1 in use. Figure 1 will be used to explain the overview of mouthpiece 1.

[0012] [overview] Mouthpiece 1 covers the teeth, and the inner wall of mouthpiece 1 adheres closely to the surface of the teeth. When mouthpiece 1 is observed from the outside, the outer wall of mouthpiece 1 may cover the gums in addition to the teeth. Mouthpiece 1 may cover not only one tooth, but multiple teeth, for example, the entire upper or lower dentition. Figure 1 illustrates a case where mouthpiece 1 is formed to cover the entire lower dentition, including the gums.

[0013] Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-section of mouthpiece 1 at A-A'. Figure 8 is a transverse cross-section of mouthpiece 1 at B-B'. The basic structure, shape, and materials of mouthpiece 1 will be explained using Figure 2.

[0014] <Structure> The mouthpiece 1 has a layered structure combining a first piece 10 and a second piece 20. The first piece 10 constitutes a surface (inner wall) that contacts the tooth surface. The second piece 20 constitutes a surface (outer wall) that contacts the tongue side or the lip side.

[0015] <Shape> The first piece 10 is desirably shaped such that it contacts the tooth surface but does not contact the gingival part. Therefore, the height h of the inner wall side member is set so as to cover the teeth but not reach the gingival part.

[0016] The second piece 20 serves as a partition for preventing the first piece 10 from contacting the lip, cheek, palate, tongue, or the occlusal surface of the opposing teeth. Therefore, the second piece 20 has a shape that covers the first piece.

[0017] <Material> The first piece 10 contains a whitening active ingredient in a base material. As the base material, for example, resin-based materials such as EVA, TPU, and urethane can be used, in addition to rubber-based materials, gel-based materials, sponges, etc. As the whitening active ingredient, for example, polyphosphoric acid, hydrogen peroxide, urea peroxide, etc. can be used.

[0018] The second piece 20 is formed from a material that does not contain a whitening active ingredient or contains it at a concentration where the influence on parts other than the teeth is sufficiently small. For example, in addition to resin-based materials such as PET-G, rubber-based materials can also be used. However, since PET-G is difficult to fuse with EVA, a combination with TPU is preferable.

[0019] Thus, in the mouthpiece 1, the first piece 含有 a whitening active ingredient contacts the teeth, and the second piece 20 contacts other parts (such as the tongue side or the lip side). Thereby, it is possible to suppress the contact of the whitening active ingredient with parts other than the teeth (such as the tongue side or the lip side) as much as possible.

[0020] Several examples of combinations of shape, material, etc., for mouthpiece 1 are shown.

[0021] [Example 1] This is an example of forming the first piece 10 by impregnating a substrate with a liquid (including gel or cream) containing a whitening active ingredient. For example, if the concentration of the usable whitening active ingredient is regulated by law (for example, if the upper limit for hydrogen peroxide concentration is 10%), it is necessary to retain a certain amount of the whitening active ingredient in the first piece 10 in order to obtain a sufficient whitening effect. In such cases, the method of impregnating the substrate with a whitening active ingredient solution is considered practical.

[0022] The mouthpiece 1 of Example 1 may be provided with the whitening active ingredient impregnated into the base material of the first piece 10, or it may be provided without the whitening active ingredient in the base material of the first piece 10. In the latter case, the doctor or patient impregnates the base material of the first piece 10 with a liquid containing the whitening active ingredient before use.

[0023] <Material> The base material of the first piece 10 is provided with holes for retaining a liquid containing the whitening active ingredient. For example, a porous material such as a sponge is used. Alternatively, if a resin-based material such as EVA, TPU, or urethane, or a rubber-based material is used, a large number of holes are formed at least on the surface of these materials, preferably on the surface and inside. In other words, a base material having a large number of dimples on its surface, or a porous base material is used.

[0024] <shape> As described above, the shape of the first piece 10 is designed to contact only the tooth surface and not the gums.

[0025] As described above, the shape of the second piece 20 is required to cover the entire first piece 10 as a partition that does not come into contact with the lips, cheeks, palate, tongue, or the occlusal surface of the opposing teeth. In addition, in this embodiment, it is preferable to have a stopper structure to prevent the liquid that has soaked into the first piece 10 from flowing out to the gums.

[0026] Here are some examples of stopper structures.

[0027] In the example shown in the longitudinal cross-sectional view of Figure 2, the entire mouthpiece 1 covers only the teeth, leaving the gum area almost completely exposed. In other words, the height h1 of the first piece 10 is approximately equal to the height h2 of the second piece 20 (without considering the thickness of each piece). In such a case, the ends 21 and 22 of the second piece 20 can be formed to wrap around the ends 11 and 12 of the first piece 10. That is, by bending or curving the ends 21 and 22 of the second piece 20 inward (towards the inner wall), the ends 11 and 12 of the first piece 10 are covered. This prevents the whitening active ingredient that has soaked into the first piece 10 from seeping out towards the gum area.

[0028] Alternatively, as shown in the longitudinal cross-sectional view of Figure 3 or Figure 4, leakage prevention walls 23 and 24 can be provided at the end portions 21 and 22 of the second piece 20. The leakage prevention walls 23 and 24 can be formed, for example, by applying resin or the like along the end portions 21 and 22 of the second piece 20. This allows the leakage prevention walls 23 and 24 to cover the end portions 11 and 12 of the first piece 10, preventing the whitening active ingredient that has seeped into the first piece 10 from seeping out towards the gums.

[0029] In the example shown in the longitudinal cross-sectional view of Figure 5, the first piece 10 covers only the tooth, while the second piece 20 is shaped to cover not only the tooth but also the gingiva. In other words, the height h of the first piece 10 is less than the height of the second piece 20. In such a case, leakage prevention walls 23 and 24 can be provided inside the second piece 20 along the ends 11 and 12 of the first piece 10. The leakage prevention walls 23 and 24 can be formed, for example, by applying resin or the like inside the second piece 20 along the gingival line at the gingival margin (near the boundary between the dentition and the gingiva). This allows the leakage prevention walls 23 and 24 to cover the ends 11 and 12 of the first piece 10, preventing the whitening active ingredient that has seeped into the first piece 10 from seeping out towards the gingiva.

[0030] According to this embodiment, even when the liquid whitening active ingredient is impregnated into the base material of the first piece 10, a mouthpiece 1 is provided that can suppress the leakage of the whitening active ingredient to the gum side.

[0031] [Example 2] This is an example of using a material in which a whitening active ingredient has been kneaded into the base material to make the first piece 10. Here, kneading means processing the base material so that the whitening active ingredient is retained in the internal structure and does not easily seep out to areas other than the contact surface of the first piece 10.

[0032] <Material> The whitening active ingredient is kneaded into a base material such as resin-based materials like EVA, TPU, and urethane, as well as rubber-based and gel-based materials, and used as the material for the first piece 10. Alternatively, a porous substrate such as a sponge may be impregnated with a whitening active ingredient, then hardened, and processed to prevent the whitening active ingredient from seeping out, and this material may be used as the material for the first piece 10.

[0033] <shape> The shape of the first piece 10 is set to contact only the tooth surface and not extend to the gums, similar to the first example.

[0034] The shape of the second piece 20 is the same as in Example 1, covering the entire first piece 10 as a partition that does not come into contact with the lips, cheeks, palate, tongue, or the occlusal surface of the opposing teeth. In this embodiment, it is not necessary to assume that the whitening active ingredient will seep out from the first piece 10 towards the gums, so it is not necessarily required to have a stopper structure.

[0035] In the example shown in the longitudinal cross-sectional view of Figure 6, the entire mouthpiece 1 covers only the teeth, leaving the gum area almost completely exposed. In other words, the height h1 of the first piece 10 is approximately equal to the height h2 of the second piece 20. In such a case, the end portions 11 and 12 of the first piece 10 do not necessarily need to be covered.

[0036] In the example shown in the longitudinal section of Figure 7, the first piece 10 covers only the tooth, while the second piece 20 is shaped to cover not only the tooth but also the gum. In other words, the height h of the first piece 10 is less than the height of the second piece 20. Even in such a case, the end portions 11 and 12 of the first piece 10 do not necessarily need to be covered.

[0037] According to this embodiment, when the whitening active ingredient is kneaded into the base material of the first piece 10, a mouthpiece 1 with a simpler structure can be provided. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0038] 1. Mouthpiece 10. Piece 1 20. The second piece 11, 12 Termination section 21, 22 Termination section 23, 24 Leakage prevention wall

Claims

1. A mouthpiece that covers at least part of either the upper or lower teeth, It is a composite of a first piece whose inner wall contacts the tooth surface and a second piece which covers the first piece and has an outer wall that contacts or faces the lip, cheek, palate, tongue, or the occlusal surface of the opposing tooth. The first piece uses a base material containing a whitening active ingredient. Teeth whitening mouthpiece.

2. The first piece does not come into contact with the gums. A whitening mouthpiece according to claim 1.

3. The material of the first piece is the base material into which the whitening active ingredient has been kneaded. A whitening mouthpiece according to claim 1.

4. The material of the first piece is a base material having pores for retaining the liquid containing the whitening active ingredient. A whitening mouthpiece according to claim 1.

5. The second piece has a stopper structure that prevents the liquid from leaking from the first piece to the gum area. The whitening mouthpiece according to claim 4.

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